Imperial German Naval ensign : Major C H D Lane, Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force

Imperial German flag. The flag is finely screen printed with horizontal black, white and red stripes. The central white stripe expands to a roundel situated slightly off centre. The Imperial German Eagle is screen printed into the centre of the roundel.

The letters 'Z' and 'V' with an anchor between have been screen printed onto the flag. The letters are done in red and the anchor in yellow. The top and bottom corners of the hoist end have had a reinforced panel added to strengthen the flag.

A white cotton supplier's label is sewn into the reverse of the flag at the bottom of the hoist end. Printed on the label is 'J.E.W. HELLGARDT / HOFLIEFERANT SR. MAJ. D. K.U.K. / KONIGL. U GROSSHERZOGL. HOFLIEFERANT / KONIGSBERG I/PR / SEGELLUCHWAREN - U. FLAGGEN-FABRIK'.

Associated with the service of Major Cyril Herbert Dodson Lane, who was born at Bondi, NSW on 23 February 1888.

After completing his early education, Lane undertook a course in electrical engineering at Sydney Technical College where he served in the senior cadets. After qualifying as an electrical engineer, he found employment as a consultant and gained a commission as a second lieutenant with the 21st Woollahra Infantry.

At the outbreak of the First World War, Lane had risen to the rank of captain and was the adjutant of 21 Battalion. He enlisted for service in the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (ANMEF) on 14 August 1914 and was accepted with the rank of captain. He was made adjutant to Colonel William Holmes, the commander of the force.

He embarked with the ANMEF from Sydney on 19 August aboard HMAT A31 Berrima. After stopping at Palm Island, the force moved on to Rabaul in New Britain and on 11 September, the Australians began their landings. The main body of the ANMEF landed in the afternoon and a dispatch rider was sent to Rabaul with the terms of surrender for the German garrison. The terms were accepted on 12 September and the Union Jack was raised above the town the next day.

Lane became part of the Rabaul garrison and in October was made a staff officer under Colonel William Holmes. During this time, he collected this Imperial German Naval ensign. Lane returned to Australia aboard SS Eastern and was discharged on 6 February 1915.

Lane applied for a commission in the AIF on 11 March and during the ensuing months he met and married Evelyn Clara Maclurcin, daughter of Hannah Maclurcin, owner and operator of the Wentworth Hotel in Sydney. Lane was appointed as a captain in the AIF on 7 May and was posted to B Company, 18 Infantry Battalion. He was promoted to major on 1 June and took command of his company.

The men of 18 Battalion embarked from Sydney on 25 June aboard HMAT A40 Ceramic, arriving in Egypt in July. After a period of further training, the Battalion embarked for service at Gallipoli in mid August and landed there on 22 August. The Battalion went straight into action at Hill 60, with Lane leading his company into Turkish positions. A heavy counter attack forced the survivors to retire. The battalion suffered 383 casualties over the course of the day.

Lane volunteered to lead the next attack on Hill 60 on 27 August. He again led his company against the Turkish positions and again entered the Turkish trenches. Lane was killed during the close quarters fighting and his surviving men were forced to withdraw. His body could not be recovered at the time and following the war his name was commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial. Four months after his death, his wife Evelyn gave birth to their daughter Evelyn Dodson Lane and later remarried.